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Author: Dariu-Admin

NAVIGATION DEVICE

In Vietnam, the visually impaired and elderly face significant mobility challenges due to limited support. As of World Sight Day 2024, approximately 2 million Vietnamese are blind or have low vision, many of whom cannot afford treatment. These individuals often struggle to identify directions and obstacles, making them vulnerable to accidents, especially at intersections with traffic lights.This project aims to develop a device that acts as an extra “eye” for the visually impaired and elderly, improving their safety and integration into society.

The device uses an Arduino board as its main processor. It receives signals from various sensors to perform basic functions:

  • A distance sensor detects obstacles and alerts the user with audio or vibration signals. It activates a vibration motor and speaker when an object is too close, warning the user of potential danger.
  • A color sensor recognizes traffic light colors and provides spoken instructions. This feature helps the device distinguish between red and green lights, providing critical guidance in an audible way.
  • A tilt sensor detects falls and sends an emergency alert to a designated contact.

These core features work together to provide a comprehensive navigation system. Users receive real-time feedback on their surroundings through audible alerts, vibrations, and potential future integration with GPS for location tracking. Health monitoring features such as heart rate and SPO2 sensors may also be integrated in the future.


TDF | Annual Report 2023

A lot has happened in 2023; we trained around 500,000 students in digital literacy, entered into two new long-term partnerships with Swisscontact and Bread for the World, expanded our Code Club activities and launched our latest project, the MAKERSPACES. 

We also signed two long-term partnerships with Bread for the World, a global development and relief organisation based in Germany, and Swisscontact, a leading Swiss organisation, that implements skills development projects in developing and emerging countries.

You can read about all this and more in our newly published Annual Report online.

AUTOMATIC GATE FOR AGRICULTURE

In Tra On District, Vinh Long Province, inland saline intrusion is a pressing problem during the dry season. This problem is caused by sea level rise, tidal changes, drought, and changes in upstream water flow. These factors contribute to increased salinity levels in the region’s rice, fruit, and vegetable growing areas, resulting in significant crop losses. To address this challenge, a project called “Automatic Gate for Agriculture” was developed by two students.

The system works by controlling the opening and closing of a sluice gate using a set of sensors.These sensors include a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) sensor to monitor salinity and ultrasonic sensors to track water levels inside and outside the gate. Real-time data is collected and processed by the ESP32 microcontroller, the system’s central processor. This microcontroller analyzes the data and triggers actions based on predefined settings. The system is powered by solar panels and a backup battery to ensure continuous operation.

The system responds to certain inputs as follows:

  • Salt water intrusion: When salinity levels rise, the gate automatically closes to prevent salt water intrusion. The pumps remain inactive during this time.
  • Water level management:
    • Low water level: The system monitors the external water level. Depending on the conditions, the gate opens or closes as needed. If necessary, pump 2 is activated to suck in water.
    • High water level: If the external water level is too high, Pump 1 is activated to remove excess water, or alternatively, the gate opens to allow water to flow out, depending on the situation.

This setup effectively manages water levels and salinity to protect agricultural lands from saltwater intrusion and water shortages during the dry season.

ELAB – VIRTUAL REALITY FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING

Two students from Le Quy Don Specialized High School (Quang Tri) designed virtual reality (VR) software to provide a new and engaging learning experience.


Traditional methods often lack the visual appeal and interactive elements that resonate with young learners. In addition, some schools lack the resources to set up well-equipped laboratories or conduct certain experiments due to cost constraints. e-Lab steps in to fill this gap.

e-Lab simulates labs and classrooms for various subjects in a 3D environment and VR technology. Users can move, observe, manipulate and experiment with realistic experiences that represent elements that cannot be observed in the real world. e-Lab is built with outstanding features:

  • Observe and interact with invisible quantities (force vectors, types of substances, etc.).
  • Interact with objects at the cellular, molecular, and atomic levels
  • Perform dangerous experiments or recreate objects that cannot be reproduced under normal classroom conditions
  • Integrate an artificial intelligence virtual tutor to deliver lectures and answer students’ questions by voiceWhen users put on the glasses, they are transported to a virtual laboratory. In this virtual lab, chemical experiments, physical phenomena, or biological phenomena inside cells can be demonstrated.

Digital Literacy Initiative project launched in Lao

The Digital Literacy Initiative project was officially launched early April at the Crowne Plaza Vientiane, marking the beginning of its implementation in Laos. The event featured a panel discussion titled “Current Situation of Future Outlook of ICT in the Education Sector in Laos,” which emphasized the project’s goals and importance to the country’s digital landscape.

The project is funded by the Dariu Foundation and Bread for the World and implemented in partnership with Swisscontact and the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports.

Its primary goal is to equip young people with essential digital skills for the emerging digital economy. This will be achieved through basic coding and programming classes, coding clubs, and digital entrepreneurship courses in high schools and technical and vocational colleges.

INTEGRATED LEAF DRYER

Students in Hau Giang Province have developed a smart dryer for tea leaves and other medicinal herbs,
that is controlled by a smartphone and integrates IoT technology.

Responding to the growing demand for natural remedies, this project aims to:

  • Empower individuals: The compact design allows for home and personal use, making it accessible to a wider audience.
  • Improve control: Users can monitor and manage the drying process remotely via their smartphone.
  • Improve efficiency: The automated system saves labour and simplifies the drying process.
    The model included a wood and foam drying house, a Yolobit circuit, signal cables, a DTH20 sensor for temperature and humidity, a fan, a pump, LED lights, an LCD screen, a servo motor for the door and a fire alarm system. This intelligent dryer facilitates the remote control and management of electrical appliances, especially when users are not at home, offering labour-saving benefits and a modern dryinand a modern drying experience.

Lifting Home

The idea is to develop an environmental friendly and floatable house that is adaptable to seasonal floodings in the Mekong River Delta. The house is made of bamboo and equipped with smart technology. Micro:bit is used as the central controlling system to connect and control other external sensors, such as lighting, humidity and proximity, and motor servo. The humidity sensor is used to transfer a signal to the Micro:bit to operate the house with up and down lifting; the light sensor for auto-lighting; the motor servo for opening/closing the main doors.

SMART FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM


There were 1,745 fire incidents in Vietnam last year, resulting in 109 deaths, 82 injuries and a preliminary estimated property damage of VND592.72 billion. Early detection of a fire significantly increases the chances of successful extinguishment by up to 90%. That’s why our team wants to use the programming skills we’ve learnt to develop a project that can detect and effectively extinguish fires in their early stages, reducing the loss of life and property.

Our SMAX uses advanced image processing algorithms to scan visual data from strategically placed cameras. Trained to recognise patterns, colours and movement associated with fire, the algorithm enables rapid and accurate identification.- Audible fire alarm: When a fire is detected, an immediate audible alarm alerts people in the vicinity, providing a vital early warning system. Automatic fire suppression: In response to a confirmed fire, the system triggers an automatic response, activating water spray or extinguishing chemicals. User notification for remote monitoring: Our system sends real-time messages to users, alerting them to fires, potential hazards or unusual movements detected by the camera. To ensure uninterrupted operation, the system incorporates a robust backup power solution. In the event of a power failure, a dedicated battery/rechargeable battery system takes over, ensuring continuous operation during unforeseen power outages. This maximises system reliability.

Digital Literacy Initiative in Cambodia

We are delighted to announce that our planned expansion is now well underway. On 18 January, the Dariu Foundation, in partnership with Swisscontact and in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, launched the Digital Literacy Initiative programme in Phnom Penh. The event was attended by H.E. Dr Oum Romny, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Daniel Keller, Vice President of the Dariu Foundation, Markus Bürli, Director of Cooperation of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in Cambodia, and Philippe Schneuwly, CEO of Swisscontact. The two-year programme (2024-2025) aims to improve the education of young people preparing to enter the labour market within 1-2 years. Students from high schools and technical and vocational schools in Siem Reap and Battambang provinces will benefit from this programme, which will empower underprivileged youth to participate in the digital economy.

Annual IMPOSSIBLE Bootcamp

In early December 2023, The Dariu Foundation organized the annual Impossible Bootcamp 2023 in collaboration with its local partners in Vinh Long province. The event attracted over 250 participants from 10 different provinces.

It was organized around three different activities, including a robotics competition and a drone competition for high school students and an Impossible 2023 pitching competition for high school and university students.

Over 50 teams took part in the robotics and drone competitions, from which two outstanding teams were ultimately selected. Beyond the competition aspect, participants took part in a series of training sessions that equipped them with the skills to design, construct and program robots and drones for the joint competition.

13 outstanding projects took part in the Demoday & Pitching Contest. These teams underwent a rigorous two-month training and a subsequent two-month incubation and mentoring phase before earning their place in the final round. There are two selected projects: “Smart Device to Support Rice Farming”, developed by students from Vo Thi Sau Secondary School in Hau Giang, and “EduBin – Automatic Trash Scan (Recognition and Classification Solution)”, developed by students from the University of Technology and the University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City.

Contact Switzerland

Manuela Nieth
manuela@dariu.org

Contact Vietnam

Nguyen Van Hanh
hanh@dariu.vn


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